News & Media

Colorado Ballet on Facebook

Colorado Ballet breaks ticket sales records for The Nutcracker

Colorado Ballet breaks ticket sales records for The Nutcracker

Sanya Andersen-Vie - January 7, 2013

DENVER – Colorado Ballet broke ticket sales records during The Nutcracker in 2012, breaking the previous record set during its 50th Anniversary Season in 2010. Ticket sales for this year’s production exceeded $2.5 million, earning $578,000 more in 2012 than it did in 2011. Nearly all of the 24 performances were sold out or close to selling out during the five-week run at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.

“An audience of 2,000 is considered sold out and we had an average attendance of 1,981 per show at The Nutcracker,” Gil Boggs, Colorado Ballet Artistic Director. “This holiday classic continues to be a popular tradition for families in Colorado and the surrounding region and this was the most successful year ever for Colorado Ballet’s The Nutcracker.”

In addition to record-breaking ticket sales for The Nutcracker, Colorado Ballet ended fiscal year 2012 in the black. The organization did this by restructuring and cutting expenses while increasing ticket sales and contributions.

“During the economic downturn, Colorado Ballet is one of many arts organizations that really felt the impact,” said Marie Belew Wheatley, Colorado Ballet Executive Director. “We had a few challenging years, but we continue to improve and are very optimistic about our financial outlook.”

According to Boggs, Colorado Ballet’s upcoming productions are unlike its typical spring ballets. “Because we had such a successful season in 2011-2012, we have an opportunity to provide a riskier season this spring,” said Boggs. “Usually, we perform a storybook ballet early in the spring and close with a repertory production. This year, our production of MasterWorks will showcase our dancers and musicians in an amazing and challenging repertory of three works in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House with live music by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra. We close with Light/The Holocaust & Humanity Project, a very bold three-month education campaign on discrimination, the cornerstone of which is a ballet based on the life of one Holocaust survivor.”

Ticket sales for the professional productions are not the only components of the organization that have grown during the last few seasons. The Colorado Ballet Academy has also seen the number of students increase during the last few years.

“Arts organizations are responsible for contributing millions of dollars to the economy in Colorado each year,” said Wheatley. “However, Colorado Ballet impacts the community in more ways than just financially. Our education and outreach programs reach 60,000 people each year, primarily youth in underserved schools and communities.”

Established in 1961 by Lillian Covillo and Freidann Parker, Colorado Ballet is a non-profit organization celebrating 52 years of presenting world-class classical ballet and superior dance in Denver. Under the direction of Artistic Director Gil Boggs, Colorado Ballet presents approximately 50 performances annually. Colorado Ballet enhances the cultural life of Colorado through performances of the professional company, training at the Academy, and Education & Outreach programs.